Hydraulic positioning saddle

ABSTRACT

A work supporting and positioning apparatus is provided that includes four positioning saddle-jacks rectangularly disposed in a manner to horizontally mount a large diameter, heavy pressure vessel. The saddle-jacks are operated by linear fluid motors for adjusting their respective positions. Remotely actuated electric controls operate the fluid motors to enable a workman to singlehandedly operate the saddle-jacks either singly or in combination to adjust the position of the pressure vessel with respect to a pre-determined point.

United States Patent [151 3,6 75,9 1 5 Vigus [451 July 1 l, 1972 541HYDRAULIC POSITIONING SADDLE 2,593,936 4/1952 Teetor ..269/58 x3,088,613 5/1963 Wuesthoff... ....2l4/l R [72] Cebm" chmanmga' 3,521,8757/1970 Kapelsohn ..269/58 [73] Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.,Windsor,

Conn. Primary Examiner-William S. Lawson Attorney-Carlton F. Bryant,Eldon H. Luther, Robert L. Ol- [22] F'led: 1969 son, John F. Carney,Richard H. Bemeike, Edward L. Kochey, [21] APPL No 8 1 Jr. and LawrenceP. Kessler [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl ..269/58, 2l4/l R, 2l4/DlG. 3 51111:. C1. ..B25j 5/00 A suppmmg and apparatus P'Wded that [58] Field ofSearch ..269/58-6l 74- inc'udes Saddle-jacks recangularly diSPOSed 214/]R l P in a manner to horizontally mount a large diameter, heavy pressurevessel. The saddle-jacks are operated by linear fluid 56] ReferencesCited motors for adjusting their respective positions. Remotely actuatedelectric controls operate the fluid motors to enable 21 UNITED S SPATENTS workman to single-handedly operate the saddle-jacks eithersingly or in combination to adjust the position of the pressure g;vessel with respect to a pre-determined point. 2:320:079 5/1943l-lartwig ..269/58 ux 10 Clains, 16 Drawing Figures o o o o uPA'TEN'TEDJUL 1 1 I972 SHEET 10F 8 l NVE'N TOR.

CEBRON T. VIGUS ATTORNEY P'A'TE'N'TEBJHL 1 1 m2 SHEET 2 0f 8 INVENTOR.CEBRO'N .-T. VIGUS gwmdco ATTORNEY P'A'TENTEDJUL 11 m2 3.675.915

INVENTOR. CEBRON T. VIGUS BY EF ATTORNEY PIIIfN'TEDJuI 1 I 1972 PUMPSTART PUMP STOP WEDGE LIMITS I IN OUT b SHEET 8 [IF 8 T g2s s 5FT- I UPON 6 FWD PUMP RESET ON ON PENDANT CONTROL REV I 304 Ive 0+ QMED [5MANUAL CONTROL ROCKER POSITION LEFT RIGHT r o o o (D I o o 0 I o o I u DI I: o u c: O D l o o i I o o o n o o o u I J I I; fi fil o o 0 I o o 0I o o l I :1 E! I I ID 0 Cl 0 0 :11

I Ll S J BY LEFT REAR RIGHT l I l I l I I I I I I I I I I csaaogl r.VIGUS ATTORNEY HYDRAULIC POSITIONING SADDLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONSuch facing requires holding dimensions to within only a few thousandthsof an inch and is usually accomplished by machining the vessel flangewith a horizontal boring mill in a manner whereby the vessel is fixedlymounted with its axis horizontal and in aligned relation with respect tothe axis of the tool. Because of the close tolerances required in thisand other fabrication steps, it is necessary that a high degree ofaccuracy be maintained in positioning the vessel with respect to each ofthe tools employed. In the past, alignment of the vessel with respect tothe tool has been both an expensive and timeconsuming proposition inthat it has been the practice to effect alignment essentially manuallyby a trail and error method conducted with the assistance of aline-of-sight device and a heavy load-lifting crane. More specifically,it has been the prior practice to position the vessel on a pair ofaxially-spaced drum saddles or the like. Thereafter, a workman viewingcross hairs mounted at two axially-spaced points within the vessel bymeans of a sighting device instructs other workmen to place shims in therespective saddles by a trial and error procedure. Obviously, each timeshimming of either of the saddles is desired, it is necessary for thecrane to be employed to lift the vessel from its mount and thereafterreturn it to its position on the saddles after the shims have beeninserted or removed.

It is obvious that this manner of aligning vessels with respect to afabrication tool is very expensive. In addition to requiring a crew ofseveral men for shimming the saddles, it further requires the presenceof a load-lifting crane to lift the vessel while shimming isaccomplished. In actual practice, such procedure is normally conductedover a 30-hour span and employs a crew of five workmen plus aload-lifting crane to be maintained on standby.

It is therefore to the alleviation of this problem that the presentinvention is directed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, workpiecesupport and positioning apparatus is provided to mount and manipulateworkpieces of great size such as large diameter, high pressure reactorvessels. The apparatus is further operative to effect remote controlledmanipulation of the workpiece supports to permit adjustment of theworkpiece position in order to eflect alignment thereof with respect toa reference point on a metal processing tool, for example. The apparatusembodies a plurality of rectangularly disposed support elements uponwhich a workpiece is capable of being mounted. Each of the supportelements, referred to hereinafter as saddle-jacks, contains fluid motormeans operative to raise or lower the workpieceengaging element thus toalter the position of the workpiece. A remotely actuatedelectro-mechanical control system is employed to operate the respectivefluid motors and include means to operate the fluid motors either singlyor jointly in any number to facilitate rapid adjustment of the workpiecepositions.

All of the above can be accomplished through the efforts of a singleworkman operating without the need of an overhead crane beyond firstplacing the workpiece in the apparatus. Once the workpiece is mountedupon the saddle-jacks precision alignment of it with respect to anygiven reference point can be effected by the workmans simply operatingvarious control switches on a control board and/or portable pendant,thereby reducing the time, effort, and expense attendant with setup of aworkpiece with respect to a tool to a minimum.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims.

The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its modeof operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof,will be best understood from the following description of a specificembodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a pictorial representationof an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a pair of saddle-jacks employed in thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a typical saddle-jack of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevational section taken along lines 44 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 6 is a vertical section taken along lines 66 of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are two views of the fluid motor actuator ring employed inthe present invention;

FIGS. 9 through 11 are enlarged detail views illustrating the variouslimit switches employed in the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic representation of the fluid system employed tooperate each of the saddle-jacks;

FIG. 13 is a schematic representation of the electrical circuit employedto operate the apparatus of the present inventlon;

FIG. 14 represents the face of the control console employed in thepresent invention;

F IG. represents in greater detail the upper right quadrant of thecontrol console of FIG. 14; and

FIG. 15 illustrates the face of the pendant employed to control thepresent apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 of the drawingillustrates a typical application of work positioning apparatusaccording to the present invention. In the illustrated application aworkman employs the apparatus for the purpose of aligning a largediameter, heavy pressure vessel 10 with respect to a reference pointassociated with a work station or tool (not shown). In broad terms, thisis accomplished by mounting the vessel 10 upon four rectangularlydisposed saddle-jacks 12 each carrying vertical adjustablevessel-mounting rockers 14 whose positions are controlled by the workmenthrough operation of apparatus controls associated with a console 16 andpendant 18. As shown, the controls are operated by the workmen to adjustthe position of the respective rockers 14 to alter the attitude of thevessel 10 as determined by viewing the center line-defining cross hairslocated in spiders 20 that are mounted at each end of the vessel. Anoptical alignment structure 22 is employed for this purpose.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 through 6 of the drawing, each saddle-jack 12comprises a base frame 24 defined by a metal casting. The base frame 24contains means described hereinafter for mounting the rocker 14 uponwhich the workpiece is borne and also the means for adjustably varyingthe position of the rocker to, in turn, alter the position of theworkpiece. Preferably, the saddle-jacks 12 are arranged in units of twowith the pair of saddle-jacks defining each unit being oppositely spacedand interconnected by tie beams 26. It will be noted that in thehereindescribed arrangement of FIG. I the vessel 10 is supported by twoaxially-spaced saddlejack units.

The base frames 24 are formed with generally rectangularly disposed top,bottom, and opposing sides 28, 30, and 32, respectively. The interior ofthe base frame casting is substantially open to carry various operatingparts of the saddle-jack mechanism. Opposed longitudinal sides 32 of thebase frame 24 are each provided at 34 and 36, respectively, withoppositely, vertically spaced upper and lower shoulders that cooperatewith attached elongated bars 38 and 40 to form guideways adapted toslidingly receive the tie beams 26.

In order that vessels of various diameters or workpieces other thanvessels can be accommodated, means are provided to adjust the lateralexpanse between the saddle-jacks 12 of each unit. This means includes aplurality of regularly longitudinally spaced, circular openings 42provided along the length of each tie beam 26 and connecting pins 44adapted to pass through selected openings in the tie beams with theirleading ends being received in oppositely disposed accommodatingrecesses 46 that are provided in the base frame casting. The pins 44 areretained in connected relation between the tie beams 26 and the baseframes 24 by means of lock plates 48 each having one that is threadedlyattached to the outer ends of the respective pins by connectors 50 andwhose other ends extend into grooves 52 provided along the upper edge ofthe lower bars 40. With the plates 48 connected to the pins 44 andhaving their ends lodged in the respective grooves 52, axial movement ofthe pins from the recesses 46 is prevented.

The mechanism employed for raising and lowering the rockers 14 in therespective saddle-jacks 12 is mounted on the base frame 24. In generalterms, this mechanism comprises a fluid motor organization and anelectrically-actuated mechanical drive therefor. The fluid motororganization includes a stationary cylindrical piston 54 fixedly mountedin upstanding relation to the bottom 28 of the base frame 24 adjacentthe forward end thereof. The lower end of the piston 54 is received incylindrical recess 56 formed in the bottom 28 of the base frame. A boss58 having a finished upper surface 60 surrounds the recess. The piston54 carries a vertically movable ram 62 that is slideable within the boreof an upstanding cylindrical guide 64 formed integrally with the baseframe casting. At its lower end the guide 64 possesses a dependingextension 66 that is disposed on the forward side of the guide and whichis coextensive with only a portion (about 100) of its periphery. Thedepending extension 66 provides added supporting surface in order toassist in restraining the ram 62 against canting within the bore, suchtendency being created by the lateral component of the load imposed onthe rocker 14 by the supported workpiece.

At its upper end the ram 62 is provided with oppositely spaced chordalflats 68 defining a staff 70 containing throughbores 72 for pivotallymounting the rocker 14 by means of connecting pins 74. As shown in FIGS.2 and 4, the rocker 14 comprises a member that is generally U-shaped insection and has a work-engaging surface 76 formed of slightly divergingsegments. Oppositely spaced legs 78 depend from the sides of thesegments and contain openings 80 for reception of the connecting pin 74.

Operation of the ram 62 is effected by the regulated admission orrelease of motive fluid to or from a cylindrical chamber 84 provided inthe interior of the ram at the lower end thereof. As shown in FIG. 6,the bottom end of chamber 84 is open and receives the piston 54 intelescoping relation therewith. An hydraulic system including fluid line86 connects the chamber 84 with a fluid reservoir formed by a tank 88mounted on the rear end of the casting. The line 86 is attached by areleasable coupling 90 to the lower end portion of the piston 54 andcommunication with the chamber 84 is effected by means of interconnectedradial and axial bores 92 and 94, respectively, that extend through thepiston. Fluid pump 96 and its operating motor 98 are employed to passfluid under pressure through the line 86 from the tank 88 to the chamber84. To discharge entrapped air from the hydraulic system, the ram 62 isprovided with interconnected axial and radial bores 100 and 102 thatextend between the chamber 84 and the exterior of the ram. A releasevalve 104 provided at the outer end of the radial bore 102 is capable ofbeing manually opened to release any air contained in the system priorto the apparatus being placed in operation.

The fluid motor system that operates the ram 62 is operated in responseto the movement of a wedge 1 that is driven by a reversible electricmotor 108 as hereinafter described. The

wedge 110 bears an inclined upper surface 111 that is of the order of a5 to l incline such that a correspondingly greater degree of movement ofthe wedge is required to effect a slight amount of movement of the ram.In this way the sensitivity and accuracy of the fluid motor apparatus isincreased. The wedge 11.0 is also employed after final adjustment as aweightsupporting member of the apparatus. In the disclosed arrangement,the electric motor 108 is operative to drive the wedge 110 forwardly orrearwardly to raise or lower a fluid motor actuator ring 112 forregulating the admission or release of motive fluid to or from thechamber 84 in response to the actuation of limit switch means ashereinafter described. The wedge 110 is a yoke-shaped member havingtapered legs 114 connected by a nexus plate 116. The nexus plate 116 isformed with oppositely spaced, downwardly facing shoulder recesses l 18that slidingly engage the upper surface of a pair of support bars 120,the latter being attached as by means of threaded connectors to oppositesides 30 of the interior of the base frame casting 24. A captive nut 122is attached to an opening through the nexus plate 116 and operativelyengages a lead screw 124 that is directly connected to, and driven by,the motor 108. The lead screw 124 has its one end secured in appropriatebearings 126 in a bushing 128 and is connected to the motor throughreduction gearing (not shown). Depending on the direction of rotation ofthe lead screw 124, therefore, the wedge 1 10 will be caused to traversethe support bars either forwardly or rearwardly, and in so doing, willcause the fluid motor actuator ring 112 to be raised or lowered into orout of engagement with an appropriately positioned limit switch 130 thatis responsible for the admission or release of fluid to or from thechamber 84.

The fluid motor actuator ring 112, shown in detail in FIGS. 7 and 8,comprises a generally cylindrical member having a through-bore 132permitting the ring to be slidingly received upon the piston 54.Oppositely spaced chordal undercuts 134 are formed on the outer surfaceof the ring to provide undersurfaces 136 with a taper corresponding tothat on the upper surfaces 11 I of the wedge legs 1 14. Theundersurfaces 136 are a adapted for engagement with the surfaces 111 ofthe wedge legs 114 such that translation of the wedge 110 with respectto the ring 112 will cause the latter to be slidingly raised or loweredwith respect to the piston 54. A radial recess I38 extends through thewall of the ring, opening from the bottom thereof, and provides aclearance space through which the fluid line 86 can unobstructedlyconnect with the bore 92 in the piston 94. A radially protruding arm orshelf 140 is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the ring 112with the upper surface of the former being arranged as a coplanarextension of the latter. The shelf 140 is located at a point on the ringwhereby it can operatively engage the follower of the limit switch 130as shown in FIG. 9.

In addition to the switch 130, a plurality of limit switches positionedat various points about each of the saddle-jacks 12 are effective, inconjunction with manually operated actuating buttons or switches on theconsole 16 and pendant 18, to control the various electrically operatedcomponents of the workpositioning apparatus. The arrangement of theseswitches is described with particular reference to FIGS. 9, 10, and 11of the drawing while their function within the electrical control systemof the apparatus will be described with reference to the circuit diagramof FIG. 13.

Limit switches 130 and 144 are mounted by means of brackets 146 to theexternal surface of the ram 62 adjacent the lower end thereof. Limitswitch 130 is a double acting switch as represented schematically in thedrawing by upper and lower contacts 148 and 150 that are respectivelyactuated by the action of the limit switch follower 152 with respect tothe ring 112 whose shelf 140 it is adapted to engage. This limit switch130 is operated in the fluid system of FIG. 12 to control the admissionor discharge of motive fluid to or from the chamber 84. Limit switch 144is a normally closed switch that has its follower 154 adapted to contactthe undersurface of the top 28 of the base frame casting 24. Contacts ofthis switch are connected to the fluid system of FIG. 12 in a manner toprevent further upward movement of the ram when the switch is actuatedto its open position.

A platform pad 156 formed on one side of the boss 58 mounts twoindependently operated limit switches 158 and 160 by means of mountingbrackets 146. Each of the limit switches 158 and 160 is positioned suchthat the respective followers 162 and 164 are located within a milledgroove 166 in the adjacent wedge leg 114. The limit switch 158 is anormally closed switch and is operatively associated with the wedgemotor 108 to terminate its operation when the follower 162 is extendedby running off the forward edge of the groove 166 when the wedge 110reaches its retracted limit of movement.

The limit switch 160 is a double acting switch having a normally opencontact 166 and normally closed contact 170. This switch is operativelyconnected to various indicating lights 172, 176, and 178 on the console16. When the follower 164 of switch 160 is in the milled groove 166, itis extended whereby contact 168 is open and contact 170 is closed. Withcontact 170 closed, indicating light 172 is actuated thereby indicatingthat the ram 62, as measured by the distance between the top of the boss58 and the center of the rocker pin 74 is below its median position. Inthe described installation the median position of the ram 62 is taken tobe that in which the center of the pin 74 is approximately 68 inchesabove the boss.

The right-hand end of the groove 166 possesses a gradual run-out 174 andis located at a point on the wedge leg 114 with respect to the follower164 of switch 160 such that when the latter contacts the former, the ram62 is approximately at its median position. The switch 160 is structuredto permit approximately a 0.015 inch movement of the follower 164 by theaction of the run-out surface 174 during which both contacts 168 and 170are open. With both contacts in the open position, light 176 on theconsole 16 is illuminated to indicate that the ram 62 is in its medianposition. With continued movement of the wedge 110 to the left, thefollower 164 is caused to contact the external side surface of the wedgeleg 114 and thereby achieve its fully depressed position whereuponcontact 168 is caused to close and contact 170 open. This actionactuates light 178 on the console 16 to indicate that the ram ispositioned above its median position. By means of this arrangement,therefore, a workman operating the apparatus is able to continuouslymonitor the relative positions of the respective rams 62 with respect totheir median positions.

Another limit switch indicated as 180 in FIG. 11 is attached to thenexus plate 116 of the wedge 110 with its follower 182 being disposeddownwardly. This limit switch is normally closed and is operativelyconnected to the wedge drive motor 108 to deactivate the motor when thewedge reaches its inner limit of travel. The switch 180 is tripped toits open position by the coaction of its follower 182 with a trip plate184 that is attached to the bottom 30 of the base frame casting 24closely rearwardly adjacent the boss 58. The limit switch 180 alsoactuates a light 186 on the console 16 so as to activate the light whenthe switch is tripped thereby indicating that the wedge 110 has reachedits inner limit of travel.

A typical motor fluid control system, one of the four employed in thedescribed embodiment, is shown schematically in FIG. 12. The controlsystem comprises the fluid reservoir 88 connected to the chamber 84 ofthe rocker ram 62 by line 86, the latter containing fluid pump 96 andpump drive motor 98. Between the reservoir and the pump, line 86contains a fluid filter 188 and manually actuable shutoff valve 190.Downstream of the pump 96 line 192 extends from line 86 and containsautomatically actuable pressure relief valve 194. This valve 194 is setto open upon experiencing a pressure of approximately 4,750 psi in theline 86 and its discharge is connected to the reservoir 88. Connectednext in series in the line 86 is a three-position directional controlvalve 196 having inlet and outlet ports 198 and 200 to which line 86connects. Other ports 202 and 204 attach a fluid return actuator line206 and valve discharge, the latter being connected with the reservoir88. Flow control solenoids for operating with control valve 196 areindicated at 208 and 210, the former being operable to effect passage ofmotive fluid to the chamber 84, thereby to raise the ram 62, and thelatter being effective to cause fluid to flow from the chamber in orderto lower the ram. Outlet port 200 of the valve 196 is connected to apilot operated check valve 212 by bypass line 214 containing ball checkvalve 216 and through which flow is permitted in the upward direction.Between the bypass line connections, line 86 contains a variable orifice218 for regulating the return speed of operation of the ram 62 and fluidfilters 220. Shown schematically as the dotted line 206 is the fluidreturn actuator line connecting the pilot operated check valve 212 andport 202 of the directional control valve 196. This line 206 iseffective when the solenoid 210 is actuated to pass fluid to the ball ofthe pilot operated check valve to raise it against the action of aspring 213, thereby to permit return flowof motive fluid through thefilter 220 and orifice 218 to lower the ram. Another variable orifice222 may be positioned in the line 206 in order to regulate the speed atwhich the valve 212 is caused to open. Also connected to this line is apressure relief line 224 containing valve 226 that is set to open atapproximately I ,200 psi.

FIG. 13 is a schematic representation of the electrical circuitryutilized in the apparatus of the present invention. In describing thiscircuit additional reference will be made to FIGS. 14 and 15, the formerbeing a representation of the layout of the face of the console 16containing various switches and indicating lights employed in theoperation of the apparatus, and the latter representing the face of thependant 18 which is hand-held by the operator and contains furtherswitches to permit operation and control of the apparatus remote fromthe console. As shown, the console 16 is divided into four identicalquadrants with each containing duplicate switches and lights associatedwith each of the four saddlejacks that comprise the apparatus. Withregard to FIG. 13, that portion thereof that is enclosed by the dottedline represents the circuitry associated with the pendant 18. Theremainder of the figure represents the circuitry associated with one ofthe four saddle-jacks 12. It should be understood that the remainingsaddles utilize circuitry that is identical with that shown.

With reference now to FIGS. 13, 14, and 15, and it being assumed thatthe portion of the circuit shown in FIG. 13 is associated with thesaddle-jack 12 located on the right side of the front end of the vessel10, the manually operated PUMP START switch 232 located on the console16 is depressed to actuate the pump start relay 234 which energizes themotor 98 of fluid pump 96 and closes contacts 236 to maintain the relay234 energized after switch 232 is released. Closure of contacts 236 willalso effect the passage of current to illuminate light 238 on theconsole 16 to indicate that the pump motor 98 has been energized.Contacts 236 are arranged to remain closed until the PUMP STOP switch240 has been actuated to deenergize the relay. Contacts 242 areassociated with the relay 244 that is energized by actuation of theHYDRAULIC RESET switch 266 on the pendant 18. Actuation of thesecontacts also illuminates light 246 to indicate that the reset switch isactuated. Contacts 248 and 250 that are connected in series withcontacts 242 are associated with the FORWARD and REVERSE buttons 252 and254, respectively, on the pendant l8 and are closed when either of therespective buttons are depressed to energize relays 256 or 258. Contacts248 are operated by the former and contacts 250 by the latter. Thecontacts 260, 262, 264, and 266 are associated with the PEN- DANTCONTROL switch 268 on the console 16. Contacts 260 and 264 are arrangedto be closed when the switch 268 is set in the UP" position and contacts262 and 266 are to be closed when it is in the DOWN position. Withswitch 268 in the OFF position, none of the contacts 260 through 266 areclosed. Contacts 260 are connected in series with relay 270 whoseactuation energizes the wedge drive motor 108 to move the wedge in thedirection of the ring 112. Also connected in the line are normally opencontacts 272 that are associated with the relay 274 which is in turnoperated by the normally closed contacts 276 of the limit switch 180(FIG. 11). These contacts 276 are actuated to their open position whenthe wedge 110 reaches its preset inner limit of travel defined by thetrip plate 184 whereby the follower 182 of the switch is tripped bycontacting the trip plate. When contacts 276 are opened, the wedge motor108 is deenergized to prevent further movement of wedge 1 in its forwarddirection. Also associated with relay 274 are the contacts 278 whoseclosure illuminates indicating light 280 on the console 16 to indicatethat the wedge has reached its forward limit. Contacts 282 are alsoconnected in series with the relay 270. These contacts are normallyclosed and are operated to their open position when the wedge reverserelay 284 is actuated. Actuation of these contacts prevents energizationof the wedge motor 108 in the forward direction when reverse motion isdesired. Indicating light 286 on the console 16 is connected in parallelwith the relay 270 and is illuminated when the relay is actuated toindicate that the wedge 110 is undergoing forward movement.

The wedge reverse relay 284 is connected in series with contacts 288 and290. Contacts 288 are normally open and operated to their closedposition by energization of relay 292 which is tripped by the opening ofcontacts 294 associated with the limit switch 158 (FIG. 10) when thewedge 110 reaches its outer limit of travel. Relay 292 also actuatescontacts 296 that illuminate indicating light 298 on console 16 toindicate that the wedge has reached its rearward limit. Contacts 290 arenormally closed contacts that are operated by the wedge forward relay270 to deactuate the reverse relay 284 when forward movement of thewedge is desired. Indicating light 300 is connected in parallel with therelay 284 and is illuminated when the relay is actuated to indicate thatthe wedge l 10 is undergoing reverse movement.

The circuit of FIG. 13 further includes the operating solenoids 208 and210 that are associated with the motive fluid directional flow controlvalve 196 and whose energization is effective to cause the rocker ram 62to be urged upwardly or downwardly. The solenoids can be energizedeither directly from the console 16 or remotely from the pendant 18.Direct energization of the solenoids 208 or 210 is achieved by means ofdepressible switches 302 or 304, respectively, on the console. The linescontaining the respective switches have normally closed contacts 306 and308 connected in series between the switches and the solenoids. Thesecontacts are operated by the relays 310 and 312, each of the contactsbeing actuated by the relay in the line containing the other. Operationof any of the respective rams 62 directly from the console 16 may bedesired for maintenance or other similar purposes when the workmen wouldwish to operate the rams either upwardly or downwardly without having toactuate the wedge 110.

Direct operation of the DOWN solenoid 210 can also be achieved from thependant 18 by means of RAM DOWN switch 314 whose actuation effectsenergization of relay 316 to close the contacts 318. The latter areconnected in parallel across switch 302 and thus, when actuated, areeffective to energize the solenoid 210.

Remote operation of the ram 62 is essentially achieved by means of thecoaction between the wedge 110, ring 112, and limit switch 130. Thelimit switch 130 which is located on the ram 62 and whose follower 152is operated by engagement with the shelf 140 on the ring 112 containstwo contacts 148 and 150. Closure of the former, as when there is nocontact between the follower 152 and the ring shelf 140, causes the DOWNsolenoid 210 of the control valve 196 to be energized, thus relievingthe chamber 84 of fluid. When contacts 150 of the limit switch areclosed by the required amount of depression of the follower 152 by thering 112, the circuit is completed to energize the UP" solenoid of thevalve 196 thereby to admit motive fluid to the ram chamber 84. Thecontacts 148 and 150 of the limit switch 130 are further arranged withrespect to one another such that at a point intermediate the points ofclosure of the contacts 148 and 150 a slight amount (approximately onesixty-fourth inch) of relative movement can occur between the ring 1 12and the ram 62 and neither of the contacts 148 or 150 will be closed.This is considered to be the neutral position of the limit switch 130 inwhich neither of the solenoids 208 or 210 will be energized and the ramwill therefore be stationary.

Switch that is mounted on the platform pad 156 and whose follower 164 isoperated in response to movements of the wedge l 10 is a double-actingswitch that is operable to actuate the respective rocker position lights172, 176, or 178 on the console 16. The respective lights areilluminated when the follower 164 is placed in one of three possiblepositions. The first occurs when the relative position between the limitswitch 160 and the surface of the wedge 110 is such as to place thefollower within the milled groove 156. In this position the followerisfully extended, thereby contacts 168 are open and contacts are closedto actuate the light 172. Actuation of this light indicates that theassociated rocker ram 62 is below its median position. The follower 164is in a second, fully depressed position when the relative position ofthe wedge 1 10 with respect to the switch 160 is such as to place thefollower outside the grooves 166 and in contact with the side surface ofthe wedge. With the follower in this position, contacts 168 are closedand 170 are open thereby actuating light 178 to indicate that theassociated rocker ram 62 is above its median position. The third light176 is positioned in series with two normally closed contacts 320 and322 and is actuated to indicate that the rocker ram 62 is in its medianposition. Actuation of this light is effected when the follower 164contacts the run-out 174 of the milled groove 166 to partly depress itand thereby place each of the contacts 168 and 170 in their openposition. With contacts 168 and 170 open and contacts 320 and 322closed, current passes to the light 176 to illuminate it. Contacts 320and 322 are each associated with relays 324 and 326, respectively, theformer being actuated to open contact 320 when light 172 is actuated andthe latter being actuated to open contact 122 when light 178 isactivated. Thus with either of the lights 172 or 178 activated, currentis incapable of passing to the light 176.

The operation of the herein described work-supporting and positioningapparatus is as follows. The vessel 10 to be worked upon is deposited bymeans of a load lifting crane or the like (not shown) in horizontalattitude upon the rockers 14 of four rectangularly arranged saddle-jacks12, the lateral spacing between the opposed jacks in each unit havingbeen set by the connection of the respective base frames 24 to the tiebeams 26. Spiders 20 containing cross hairs defining the axial center ofthe vessel are positioned at two axially spaced points within thevessel. A platform is positioned adjacent one end of the vessel 10 andmounts the console 16, the workman who is to operate the apparatus, andan optical alignment instrument 22. The height and position of theplatform is such that the in strument 22 is in alignment with thereference point with which it is desired to align the vessel axis. Thependant 18 is hand-held by the workman.

For the sake of this description, it is assumed that the rams 62 of allfour saddle-jacks 12 are located in their median position as indicatedby the illumination of the lights 176 in each of the four quadrants ofthe face of console 16. It is further assumed that the workman, inviewing the cross hairs in spiders 20 through the optical alignmentinstrument 22, determines that the vessel axis should first be adjustedin the horizontal plane. The necessary manipulation of the apparatus toeffect this adjustment requires that, of the front saddle-jacks 12, Le.those located closest the platform, that on the left must be raised andthat on the right lowered. Of those in the rear, the one on the leftmust be lowered and that on the right raised.

Initially, the workman sets each of the PENDANT CON- TROL switches 268in the position to deliver the desired direction of movement of therespective rams 62. With the switches 268 associated with the left frontand right rear jacks 12 in the UP position, contacts 260 and 264 in thecircuit of FIG. 13 will be closed and contacts 262 and 266 opened.Conversely, with the switches 268 associated with right front and leftrear saddle-jacks 12 in the DOWN position, contacts 262 and 266 will beclosed and contacts 260 and 264 opened. Next, the workman depresses theHYDRAULIC RESET button 246 on the pendant 18. Depression of this buttonactuates relays 244 associated with each jack which, in turn, closecontacts 242 and 245. The closing of the contacts 242 arms the controlsystem for its operation in the automatic mode while closure of contacts245 enables the relays 244 to be held in until relays 316 have beenactuated to open the contacts 243 and thereby de-energize the relays 244and the rest of the system.

Following this, the workman depresses button 252 marked FORWARD on thependant 18. This will energize the relays 256 associated with eachsaddle-jack 12 which close their associated contacts 248. In those unitsset for upward ram movement, closure of contacts 248 will cause relays270 to be actuated thus to energize the respective wedge drive motors108 to move the wedges 110 forwardly to raise the rings 112. In theunits that are set for downward ram movement closure of contacts 248will cause the relays 284 to be actuated thereby energizing motors 108to move the wedges 110 rearwardly thus lowering the rings 112. As longas the button 252 on the pendant 18 is depressed, the respective wedges110 will continue to move in the direction indicated. When wedges 110raise the rings 112, the latter will be caused to depress the followers152 (FIG. 9) an amount sufficient to close contacts 150 therebyenergizing the solenoids 208 on the fluid directional flow containervalve 196 (FIG. 12). With solenoids 208 energized, ports 198 and 200 onthe valves are interconnected and motive fluid proceeds to flow from therespective reservoir tanks 88 through lines 86 past check valves 216 and212 to the chambers 84 of the respective rams 62 thus causing themtogether with their rockers 14 to be raised. Conversely, when relays 284are actuated in the units set for downward movement, the motors 108associated with these units will be energized to cause the wedges 110 tomove rearwardly. With this direction of movement occurring, thefollowers 152 on the limit switches 130 will be positioned such thatcontacts 148 will be closed thus energizing solenoids 210 on the valves196. Energizing these solenoids will connect the ports 198 and 202 ofthe valves as well as ports 200 and 204. Connection of ports 198 and 202will cause actuating fluid to flow through the line 206 to open thepilot operated check valve 212 thereby causing fluid to flow from thechamber 84 in the affected rams 62 back through lines 86 to the ports200 and thence from ports 204 to the reservoir tanks 88, thus causingthe rams to descend.

The workman will maintain the FORWARD button 252 depressed until,sighting through the optical alignment instrument 22, he observes thevertical cross hairs in the spiders being brought into mutual alignment.When this occurs, the RAM DOWN button 314 on the pendant 18 is depressedwhich actuates relay 316 to open their associated contacts 243 whichwill deactivate the associated relay 244, thereby removing the apparatusfrom the automatic mode of operation by opening contact 245. At the sametime, actuation of relay 316 closes contacts 318 which energize all fourof the solenoids 210 to cause the rams 62 to descend to bring theundersurfaces 136 on the rings 112 into abutment with the upper surface1 11 of the wedge legs 114. Thereafter, support of the vessel isundertaken by the wedges in order that the fluid motors can bedeactivated. The amount of descent of the ram 62 will be slight.Relative movements between the respective rams 62 will be less than0.015 inch and will therefore have no significant effect upon vesselalignment.

In the alternative, if the workman maintains the FOR- WARD button 252depressed for too long a period of time, thereby resulting in therespective rams 62 being moved too great an extent, a correctiveoperation can be performed by the workman depressing REVERSE button 254on the pendant 18. With button 252 released and button 254 depressed,

relay 256 is deactivated and relay 258 actuated. Deactuation of relay256 opens the contacts 248 while actuation of relay 258 closes contacts250 whereupon the relays 270 and 284 that are responsible forenergization of the respective wedge motors 108 will be actuated, but ina manner to have a reverse effect upon the wedges. Thus, with REVERSEbutton 254 on the pendant 18 depressed and contacts 250 closed, thewedges associated with the units having their PENDANT CONTROL switches268 set for movement in the upward direction will move downwardly andvice versa for those set for downward movement. In this way, anovershooting of the ram by the workman can be corrected and thereafterthe RAM DOWN button 314 on the pendant 18 can be depressed to set thevessel-supporting mechanism down in supported relation upon the uppersurfaces of the wedge legs 114 as described hereinabove.

It will be appreciated that the operation described herein representsonly one of several that can be performed by the present apparatus. Inaddition to aligning the vertical cross hairs in the spiders 20, theapparatus will thereafter be employed by the workman to align thehorizontal cross hairs by viewing the relative positions of therespective cross hairs with the optical alignment instrument 22,determining which of the saddle-jacks 12 must be adjusted and in whichdirection, and thereafter operating the apparatus in a manner similar tothat just described to accomplish alignment of the vessel axis in theother plane.

By means of the invention, therefore, there is provided work supportingand positioning apparatus together with the controls therefor that iscapable of significantly reducing the amount of time, effort, andexpense required to set up a large, heavy workpiece with respect to atool or the like. Where the inventive apparatus is employed, a singleworkman in just a few hours can accurately perform alignment functionsupon a workpiece that previously required five or more workmen over adays time to perform by means of a much less accurate trial and errorprocedure. Use of the invention also obviates the need of maintaining avaluable load-lifting crane on stand by for long periods of time, suchdevice only being required to initially load the workpiece upon thesaddle-jack units.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials,and arrangements of parts which have been herein described andillustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention may be madeby those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of theinvention as expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Work supporting and positioning apparatus including saddle-jack meanscomprising:

a. a generally horizontally elongated stationary base member;

b. adjustable work support means carried by said base member;

c. fluid motor means operatively connected to said work support meansfor adjusting the position thereof;

d. means for actuating said fluid motor means including:

i. mechanical actuator means slidably mounted on said base member,

ii. means for slidably moving said actuator means backwards or forwardsalong said base member,

iii. means operatively interconnecting said actuator means and saidfluid motor means for admitting or discharging motive fluid to or fromsaid motor means in response to the degree and direction of movement ofsaid actuator means, and

iv. control means connected to said actuator moving means forselectively imparting movement to said actuator.

2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said work support meansincludes a generally upstanding ram mounted for sliding movementsubstantially normal with respect to said base member, work engagingmeans carried by said ram and wherein said fluid motor means comprisesoperating parts ineluding a piston and a cylinder, one of said operatingparts being fixedly secured to said base member and the other beingcontiguous with said ram.

3. Apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said fluid motor meanscomprises an upstanding piston having its lower end fixedly secured tosaid base member, said ram including a lower end portion containing arecess opening to the lower end thereof and adapted for slidingtelescopic engagement with the upper end of said piston, said piston andsaid recess cooperating to define a motive fluid receiving chamber, andmeans for passing motive fluid to and from said chamber.

4. Apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said motive fluid passingmeans comprises a fluid system including an electrically actuated flowdirectional control valve operative to selectively admit or dischargemotive fluid to or from said chamber.

5. Apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said fluid motor actuatingmeans includes switch means attached to said ram and actuable inresponse to the degree and direction of movement of said actuator means.

6. Apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said fluid motor actuatingmeans comprises:

a. mechanical actuator means in the form of a wedge having a surfacedefining an inclined plane; b. a ring surrounding said piston and freelyslidable with said switch means; and

c. inclined surface means on said ring cooperating with that on saidwedge to raise said ring during forward movement of said wedge and tolower said ring during backward movement thereof.

7. Apparatus as recited in claim 6 including electric circuit meanscontaining said switch means and operative to actuate said flowdirectional control valve to admit motive fluid to said chamber uponupward movement of said ring and to actuate said flow directionalcontrol valve to discharge motive fluid from said chamber upon downwardmovement of said ring.

8. Apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said switch means includesmeans for actuating said valve for preventing the admission anddischarge of motive fluid to and from said chamber when said ring isstationary.

9.. Apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said electric circuit meansincludes means for actuating said valve for the discharge of fluid fromsaid chamber when said ring is stationary to dispose said ram insupported engagement upon said ring and wedge.

10. Work supporting and positioning apparatus as recited in claim 1including at least a pair of oppositely disposed saddlejack means, andmeans for adjustably interconnecting the base.

members thereof.

1. Work supporting and positioning apparatus including saddlejack meanscomprising: a. a generally horizontally elongated stationary basemember; b. adjustable work support means carried by said base member; c.fluid motor means operatively connected to said work support means foradjusting the position thereof; d. means for actuating said fluid motormeans including: i. mechanical actuator means slidably mounted on saidbase member, ii. means for slidably moving said actuator means backwardsor forwards along said base member, iii. means operativelyinterconnecting said actuator means and said fluid motor means foradmitting or discharging motive fluid to or from said motor means inresponse to the degree and direction of movement of said actuator means,and iv. control means connected to said actuator moving means forselectively imparting movement to said actuator.
 2. Apparatus as recitedin claim 1 wherein said work support means includes a generallyupstanding ram mounted for sliding movement substantially normal withrespect to said base member, work engaging means carried by said ram andwherein said fluid motor means comprises operating parts including apiston and a cylinder, one of said operating parts being fixedly securedto said base member and the other being contiguous with said ram. 3.Apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said fluid motor means comprisesan upstanding piston having its lower end fixedly secured to said basemember, said ram including a lower end portion containing a recessopening to the lower end thereof and adapted for sliding telescopicengagement with the upper end of said piston, said piston and saidrecess cooperating to define a motive fluid receiving chamber, and meansfor passing motive fluid to and from said chamber.
 4. Apparatus asrecited in claim 3 wherein said motive fluid passing means comprises afluid system including an electrically actuated flow directional controlvalve operative to selectively admit or discharge motive fluid to orfrom said chamber.
 5. Apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said fluidmotor actuating means includes switch means attached to said ram andactuable in response to the degree and direction of movement of saidactuator means.
 6. Apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said fluidmotor actuating means comprises: a. mechanical actuator means in theform of a wedge having a surface defining an inclined plane; b. a ringsurrounding said piston and freely slidable with said switch means; andc. inclined surface means on said ring cooperating with that on saidwedge to raise said ring during forward movement of said wedge and tolower said ring during backward movement thereof.
 7. Apparatus asrecited in claim 6 including electric circuit means containing saidswitch means and operative to actuate said flow directional controlvalve to admit motive fluid to said chamber upon upward movement of saidring and to actuate said flow directional control valve to dischargemotive fluid from said chamber upon downward movement of said ring. 8.Apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said switch means includes meansfor actuating said valve for preventing the admission and discharge ofmotive fluid to and from said chamber when said ring is stationary. 9.Apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said electric circuit meansincludes means for actuating said valve for the discharge of fluid fromsaid chamber when said ring is stationary to dispose said ram insupported engagement upon said ring and wedge.
 10. Work supporting andpositioning apparatus as recited in claim 1 including at least a pair ofoppositely disposed saddle-jack means, and means for adjustablyinterconnecting the base members thereof.